On the Way Out

It took me few years of going downhill before I realized that I had to do something about my situation and life in general: I had a run of bad luck for a year or two, I divorced, I had a hard time going back to college and I was sad in general.
I pushed myself hard and I was able to finish college but it was not easy, I had to work and support myself at the same time.
Even though finishing college was a big accomplishment, this happiness did not last long; I was still using and not very happy about the direction my life was going.
Drugs seem to be everywhere, at work, with friends, at parties, at dancing clubs. And if I tried to get away they (drugs) would find me in the most peculiar ways, amazing!
But more of this later, suffice to say that it was hard to get away from them.
It took me years of struggle, about 15-18 years, to start to change for the better. The first thing that I discovered was a philosophy that explained many things about life that I agreed with. This led to the first step of doing something effective about my situation and using drugs.
This process was not easy but it produced the expected results--a Drug Free individual.
How do this could help you? It all depends on how bad you want something, but there is a way out.

Another Day Another Drug

Continuation on early post: I started sniffing glue when I was about 12 or 13 and I liked it, except I got busted by mom because it left a strong scent in my body. I stopped doing this for the most part until I was in Jr high. I did not have any friends that did drugs but that got solved on my third year.
I was 15 when I met a graduate at the end of the day. He was in high school getting ready for college. He showed me a booklet he was given in school about all the common drugs and explained its effects and dangers, however 'my friend' was more interested in the 'good effects' this drugs produced. He said he had tried some of these, like marijuana, mushrooms and peyote and he seemed happy about its effects.
Later he asked me to go for a walk and lit a joint and offered me some. We walked around the school block and I had about 3 puffs. After this I was like in a movie, with moving pictures and I was very sensitive to all the perceptions, except that all came at once. I settled and started focusing on individual perceptions until I was able to do so, at the expense of other perceptions.
Well, this is part of my first experience (more later) and I liked it--I was hooked. I started befriending the hip guys--and girls--and started on the dark path (more of it latter).
Although I had very good times associated with alcohol and drugs I can now say it all was pretty much a waste of time. I fell behind in my studies, family, good friends (and girlfriends) and goals in general. I quit college because of this.
I'm glad I found a way out, I consider myself lucky.

How it all started

I like most other hip kids also started on drugs at an early age.